Cinema and Leisureplex set to open at Charlestown centre

A new nine-screen cinema complex and a Leisureplex facility opens for business tomorrow at Charlestown shopping centre off the M50 at Finglas in north Dublin.

Developers Michael and Tom Bailey used €12 million of funding from Nama to provide the leisure facilities alongside the shopping centre and two drive-through restaurants for KFC and McDonald's.

The new Odeon cinema will accommodate up to 1,527 patrons while the Leisureplex will have an overall floor area of 4,000sq m (43,055sq ft).

The extra facilities are expected to add about €1.5 million to the annual rent roll and lead to the creation of 100 new jobs.

Brothers Colm and Ciaran Butler's UCI/Odeal Group are to operate Leisureplex as well as the cinemas and a TGI Fridays restaurant.

The Finglas area has a huge population in the 18-35 age category.

The first phase of Charlestown shopping centre opened in 2007 and has 30 internal and external retail units together with 800 car parking spaces.

The centre is anchored by Dunnes Stores.

Charlestown is marketed by Savills and Mason Owen & Lyons.